Fact Check: Threading at beauty salon transmitted Hepatitis B? No, doctor's video is hypothetical

Hyderabad: In a viral video, Dr Vishal Gabale of Internal Medicine from Navi Mumbai, claimed that the cosmetic procedure, threading, could potentially transmit Hepatitis B, a serious liver infection.

He narrates a case where three young women who had visited the same threading salon tested positive for the virus with matching strains.

“As a doctor, this was highly unusual. It felt like a medical mystery. So, I did what doctors are trained to do: I stepped back and took a detailed history, asking them about their activities in the week before symptoms began. That’s when the connection became clear: all three had visited the same threading salon,” Dr Gabale said, in the video he shared from his Instagram account on April 4.

Dr Gabale also claimed that according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) 2022 bulletin, cases of Hepatitis B transmission have been reported following tattooing, sharing razors, ‘and even cosmetic procedures like threading.’

“We often assume threading is harmless. However, the procedure can cause micro-abrasions in the skin and the Hepatitis B virus can survive for days on tiny, contaminated surfaces. You don’t even need visible blood — just one infected thread or unsterile tool, and the virus spreads quietly. So yes, something as routine as threading can carry a risk,” said the Navi Mumbai-based social media influencer doctor in the viral video.

Similarly, in another video published on July 22, MBBS Dr Aditij Dhamija claimed that routine visits to neighbourhood parlours to get eyebrows shaped can expose one to ‘liver failure risk’ owing to hepatitis concerns.

“She went to get her eyebrows threaded, came back with liver failure. She came to the hospital with fatigue, nausea and yellow eyes. Tests revealed her liver was giving up, not because of alcohol or medicines but due to a beauty parlour visit gone wrong. This happened because reused threading material caused micro-cuts, through which Hepatitis B or C viruses entered her bloodstream,” Dr Dhamija said in an Instagram post shared from his account.

After the videos went viral, similar content, warning people about the risks of threading, started circulating on Instagram. Here’s a similar post.

Fact Check

NewsMeter found that the viral claim is misleading. Medical experts confirm there are no documented cases linking threading to Hepatitis B transmission, despite the theoretical possibility.

Most importantly, what Dr Gabale did not prominently state in the video was only included in the caption, which many viewers may miss reading.

His caption reads: “Disclaimer: This is a concept case created for educational and informational purposes. It is not based on one specific real patient but illustrates theoretical clinical possibilities seen across various medical literature and global case reports. Always consult a licensed medical professional for diagnosis or treatment.”

What medical evidence shows

Speaking to NewsMeter, Dr C Madhavi, a Hyderabad-based dermatologist, explained that while theoretical transmission is possible through cuts or breaks in the skin, clinical practice tells a different story.

“If there’s a wound, any cut or break in the skin, then yes. Theoretically, a virus like Hepatitis B could spread through that wound. So, if threading somehow causes a cut or micro-abrasion, transmission might be possible in theory. But in clinical practice, we’ve never seen or heard of a case where threading has directly led to Hepatitis B transmission,” the dermatologist said.

Can tattooing transmit Hepatitis?

She, however, pointed out that tattooing carries a real risk since it pierces the skin, and there are documented cases of viral transmission through tattoos. “But threading is much more superficial, and I haven’t seen any confirmed cases or research linking it to viral transmission like Hepatitis B,” she said.

The risk in barber shops

The dermatologist noted that in men’s salons or barbershops, the reuse of blades without proper sterilisation has historically been a significant risk factor for Hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmission. When a blade is used multiple times on different clients without adequate sterilisation, microscopic amounts of blood contaminated with HBV can remain on the blade. Because the virus can survive outside the body for up to seven days, subsequent clients can be exposed to the virus, especially if the blade causes small cuts or abrasions.

“However,” she said, “When women go for threading, the beautician doesn’t even utilise one section of thread on both eyebrows. They cut or break the thread once it’s used on one eyebrow. So practically the risks are not present.”

She cited a cross-sectional study conducted among women’s beauty salon workers in Karachi, Pakistan, which highlighted the risk of Hepatitis B transmission in beauty treatments due to contaminated instruments.

The study found that sharing or improper sterilisation of sharp instruments like nail scissors, razors, and other beauty tools poses a significant risk for transmitting HBV. “However, thread has not been mentioned as a cause in the study,” she emphasised.

Given how common threading is, nearly every woman undergoes it at some point if it really posed such a risk, more evidence would be expected. “That’s why it feels a bit like fear-mongering, making it harder for experts to weigh in or correct misinformation,” the dermatologist said.

What about the WHO citation issue?

Dr Gabale claimed that according to a WHO 2022 bulletin, cases of Hepatitis B transmission have been reported following threading.

However, the video did not provide a direct link to any WHO publication, just a screenshot.

NewsMeter found that the screenshot is of a research paper about Hepatitis B transmission published in 2010. It is not a WHO guideline and the article does not even mention threading as a mode of Hepatitis B transmission.

Expert medical opinion

Hyderabad-based neurologist Dr Sudhir Kumar told NewsMeter that there’s a small disclaimer in Dr Gabale’s video saying it’s ‘only for educational purposes’ and presents a theoretical risk. “This suggests that the doctor in the video hasn’t actually seen or treated any real cases of Hepatitis B caused by threading,” Dr Kumar said.

“The problem is that most viewers may miss that disclaimer. They might take the content at face value and become unnecessarily alarmed,” he said.

Dr Kumar explained that the video is misleading for several key reasons.

“First and foremost, there isn’t a single documented case report anywhere in the world that links threading to the transmission of Hepatitis B. That's significant, considering how common threading is globally, practically every woman and even some men undergo it regularly,” he said.

If there were any genuine risk, there would be at least one reported case, according to Dr Kumar. Given the widespread practice of threading and the fact that Hepatitis B has been around and well-studied for decades, the absence of any such report makes it extremely unlikely.

“That said, there are certain beauty parlour procedures that have been scientifically linked to the transmission of Hepatitis B. These include tattooing, body piercing, manicures, and even shaving, especially when hygiene protocols are not followed. One well-regarded study even showed up to an 80 per cent increased risk of Hepatitis B infection among individuals who underwent these kinds of treatments,” Dr Kumar said.

But what about threading? “As of now, there’s no evidence or published research associating it with Hepatitis B transmission,” he stated.

Since threading is one of the most common cosmetic practices worldwide, if it truly posed a risk of Hepatitis B transmission, there would have been at least a few published cases. The complete lack of evidence, despite millions of procedures, makes the claim highly improbable.

“That’s why such warnings feel like fear-mongering or, at best, clickbait. What makes it worse is when misinformation comes from doctors, not just influencers. People naturally trust medical professionals, so sensational claims like threading causing Hepatitis B or avoiding biopsies for breast lumps can do real harm,” said Dr Kumar.

He also pointed out that one such video was flagged by Instagram for spreading false health information. Threading typically doesn’t break the skin or cause bleeding, which is essential for Hepatitis B transmission.

“Unlike tattooing or piercings, which carry known risks, there’s no scientific evidence linking threading to the virus. We should focus on real risks like unsafe sex, reused needles or unhygienic medical practices rather than alarming people over an unproven, hypothetical scenario,” Dr Kumar said.

Despite the theoretical possibility of Hepatitis B transmission through threading, there are no documented cases linking the cosmetic procedure to the virus. The viral videos present hypothetical scenarios rather than actual medical cases. The claim is misleading.